Update: We’ve Asked the Chief Ombudsman to Step In

This week we received a reply from the Office of the Ombudsman about our complaint on the secret regimes PERU, PERD, and TNOC. Their response was the same one many families are given: “you must first go through Corrections’ internal complaints process.”

But here’s the problem — that process is painfully slow, keeps complaints hidden inside the system, and leaves people trapped in solitary-like regimes with no clear way out.

That’s why we’ve now formally asked the Chief Ombudsman to launch a systemic investigation. This is something the Chief Ombudsman has done before — for example, into prison seclusion, restraint, and mental health care. We believe PERU, PERD, and TNOC are just as urgent because they violate:

The NZ Bill of Rights Act,
The UN Mandela Rules, and
OPCAT international obligations.

📌 Why this matters: The Ombudsman’s own reports show that Corrections is one of the most complained-about agencies in New Zealand. The fact that so many people get the same response proves this isn’t just one case — it’s a systemic problem.

👉 Here’s how you can help right now:

Sign the petition if you haven’t yet.
Share this petition with one friend, family member, or group.
Raise awareness: every extra voice makes it harder for officials to keep these regimes hidden behind bureaucracy.

We’ve made it clear: this is not about waiting years for internal reviews. It’s about ending secret punishment now. Thank you for standing with us.